Our SE Calgary Dental Team
At Deer Valley Dental Care, we are a diverse, professional dental team that is proud to provide dental care and support to our South East (SE) Calgary patients.
Clinical Team
Dental Assistants
Name: Elaine Hall
Position: Registered Dental Assistant, Assistant to Dr Ali
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 1995
Service Philosophy: I feel like I can help patients best when I can share my 25 years professional and personal experience.
Personal Interests: I like to travel, hike , camp, outdoor stuff, play the piano.
Name: Melissa Schoenfeldt
Position: Registered Dental Assistant, Assistant to Dr. Ali
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2011
Service Philosophy: They show up in fear and leave wanting a hug with a smile on their face!!! Most people have terrible experiences as a child and I love showing them how far and less uncomfortable dentistry has become.
Personal Interests: I am a soccer mom, love to paint , and watch movies with my boys. I have been with the love of my life for 17 years , he’s my high school sweetheart.
Name: Darlene Dueck
Position: Registered Dental Assistant for Dr. Philipow
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2004
Service Philosophy: I believe in providing a positive experience for each and every patient. Making their experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Listening to the patient’s concerns, providing all the treatment options and supporting the patient as they choose the option that is most suited to them. Dental care can look different for each patient!
Personal Interests: Things I love to do in my spare time : reading, hiking, walking my dog, playing board games and traveling. My favourite trip was to Northern Italy and Paris with our back packs and train pass!!
Name: Trudi Klassen
Position: Registered Dental Assistant, Assistant to Dr. Mor
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2011
Service Philosophy: To provide compassionate care.
Personal Interests: Dirt bikes!
Name: Hayley Mae Salingua
Position: Registered Dental Assistant, Assistant to Dr. Dhanji
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2015
Service Philosophy:Give the patient the best possible care that they need and make their visit a comfortable and satisfying one.
Personal Interests: I enjoy playing musical instruments with my family. I love outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fishing and boating.
Name: Oksana Cherbina
Position: Registered Dental Assistant for Dr. Moussa
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2011
Service Philosophy: I feel like I can help patients best when I am happy and rested.
Personal Interests: In my free time I enjoy practicing yoga. I have an active lifestyle. With my family I like to play tennis, bicycling, hiking. I spend a lot of time in summer gardening with my kids.
Name: Susan Sweetnam
Position: Registered Dental Assistant, Assistant to Dr. Don
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2011
Service Philosophy: I feel like I have accomplished my goal if a patient walks in very nervous and dreading there appointment and walks out feeling good about their dental experience.
Personal Interests: Hiking is my passion and I try to keep fit by doing hot yoga a couple of times a week.
Name: Shane Sawh
Position: Assistant to Dr. Mori
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2016
Name: Lamia Souraya
Position: Registered Dental Assistant, Assistant to Dr. Moussa
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2014
Service Philosophy: Always be kind and understanding. I feel like I can help patients better when I put myself in their shoes.
Personal Interests: Hiking, Road trips, Concerts, Netflix-ing, Hanging out with family.
Name: Puneet Khaira
Position: Registered Dental Assistant for Dr. Waleed
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2015
Service Philosophy: I feel I can connect very well with patients and am able to develop a friendly bond with them. I am at ease in communicating with our patients and gel very well with kids. I feel I can help reduce their anxiety about dental treatments.
Personal Interests: I am passionate about outdoors, love to travel and plan to explore around the world. I enjoy reading and cooking. I love challenges and consider myself very hardworking and dedicated. My absolute guilt pleasure is shopping and indulging in some good desserts.
Name: Faryal Nekzad
Position: Registered Dental Assistant for Dr. Don Robertson
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2013
Service Philosophy:I enjoy talking to my patients and building a relationship. I also like to explain every step of the procedure which I feel helps patients feel at ease when in the dental chair.
Personal Interests:My personal interests are taking small road trips to the Alberta Rocky Mountains, travelling and reading.
Name: Jackelyn Douglas
Position: Registered Dental Assistant for Dr. Waleed Al-Turfi and Dr. Kaitlin Enns
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2010
Service Philosophy:I feel like I can help patients best by taking the time to explain about the treatment they need and why it is beneficial for them to do it. The pros and cons and help them make an educated decision on what is best for them.
Personal Interests:I enjoying travelling to different places in the world. My favourite is Thailand. I like hanging out with my friends and going on hikes. I enjoying family time, especially seeing my two adorable nephews!
Name: Jennifer Graham
Position: Registered Dental Assistant for Dr. Tobin Doty
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2014
Service Philosophy:A patient is more than just teeth. Here at DeerValley their more like family!
Personal Interests:Enjoy the outdoors, swimming, painting, and animals.
Name: Amy Atwal
Position: Registered Dentist Assistant, Assistant to Dr. Doty
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2006
Bio: Amy makes sure that patients leave the dental office with a smile. Like the rest of the team, her goal is to see every patient happy with the treatment they’ve received.
To Amy, dentistry should always be a pleasant experience. That’s why she strives to help patients every step of the way.
When not in practice, Amy can be found busy gardening, playing badminton or volleyball, and biking. If not, she’s most likely spending time reading, cooking, or watching movies. Meet Amy in your next visit at Deer Valley Dental Care located in South Calgary!
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Dental Hygienists
Name: Chona Almero
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2012
Service Philosophy: I strive for excellence with every patient
Personal Interests:I enjoy outdoor activities with family like tennis, biking sometimes mountain biking and camping in summer time.
Name: Gwen Stopanski
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:1999
Service Philosophy: Work with clients to accomplish the desired goal.
Personal Interests:I enjoy reading and love animals. I also enjoy testing my skills in a challenging poker tournament.
Name: Shannon Zorn
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2006
Service Philosophy: Providing dental hygiene services to the community with professionalism, dedication, and compassion.
Personal Interests:Camping, Skiing, Painting, Boating, Fishing.
Name: Jaz Tathgur
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2010
Service Philosophy:Knowledge is the key.
Personal Interests:I enjoy spending my time with my cousins and going out and trying new restaurants. I love arts and crafts (a lot of DIY) along with being physically active.
Name: Sue Burgess
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2003
Service Philosophy:I love being a dental hygienist. I hope that when you leave from an appointment with me that you will understand the importance of oral health and how it plays such a big role in your overall health. I feel I can help patients best when I know as much about them as possible, find out what is important to them, acknowledge their needs and fears. An appointment with me is not just about scraping teeth!! A cleaning may take a number of appointments or be as quick as 20 minutes. Every patient is an individual, every one is different.
Personal Interests:I love my family and try to put them first. However after all these years I am just learning how to take some “me” time. I try to work out at the gym, watch my diet and include something I love for “just me” in my day. I love to read and complete puzzles–any puzzles, logic, suduko, jigsaw, etc. I love to travel! Anywhere warm!! Ask me any questions about Disney vacations or cruising. I have been on a African safari to Kenya and Tanzania….driven across Europe. I love to hear where people originate from—many people are so brave to move to Calgary. I am a second generation Calgarian. I love watching tennis!! My dream is to attend every grand slam event and meet Roger Federer!
Name: Tanya Portnoy
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2013
Service Philosophy: I strive to use al my knowledge and experience to improve patient’s Oral and Overall Health. Through my practice of Dental Hygiene, I hope to enhance people’s dental experience while providing them with a friendship built upon trust, honesty, and privacy.
Personal Interests: I enjoy reading books, going for bike ride, travelling and spending time with family and friends.
Name: Brieanna Duffy
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2015
Service Philosophy:I feel like I can help patients best when we work as a team. Whether it be the support and advice from fellow co-workers or communicating with a patient to help optimize their oral health and provide them with the best dental experience possible, working together is the key to success.
Personal Interests:I enjoy doing anything active and adventurous. My favourite activities include soccer, running, field hockey and ringette. In the next few years, I am hoping to travel more frequently and volunteer in underprivileged countries. However, I am most frequently flying back home to Ontario to visit my family and friends.
Name: Nosheen Khan
Position: Registered Dental Hygienist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2016
Service Philosophy:My favourite thing about being a hygienist is helping my patients improve their dental and overall health.
Personal Interests:Painting, cooking, spending time with friends and family and travelling whenever I get the chance.
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Support Team
Managers
Name: Craig Hayes
Position: Manager
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2006
Service Philosophy: I believe in friends helping friends. Every patient every time. I’m proud of what we are at Deer Valley Dental Care, it’s important to me that patients see what I know, this team cares. I’m distressed when I see a patient in pain so my goal is to help them see how our team will walk them through the process of treating the cause of the pain.
Personal Interests: Singing playing piano, family.
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Coordinators
Name: Hawa Jackson
Position: Continuing Care Coordinator
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2013
Service Philosophy:I feel I can help patients best by being empathetic , sympathetic and being a good listener. always putting theirs needs first.
Personal Interests:Outdoor life, cooking , reading, and gardening.
Name: Liucija Markeviciute
Position: Treatment Coordinator for Dr. Waleed Al-Turfi and Dr. Premi
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2015
Service Philosophy:My goal is to provide each patient with high quality customer service. I feel like I can help patients best when I treat them with respect, compassion and understanding. Same way I would treat my family and friends. I work hard to accommodate all of patients’ needs, answer all of their questions and make sure financial part of their treatment is as smooth as possible and with no surprises.
Personal Interests:Books, movies, bicycle riding, badminton, being outdoors…
Name: Joshna Odedra
Position: Treatment Coordinator for Dr. Dhanji and Dr. Headley
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2014
Service Philosophy:Helping patients with insurance, billing, and answering any questions they have. Always be there when patients need help.
Personal Interests:Cooking, reading, and hiking.
Name: Jody Chaffin
Position:Treatment Coordinator for Dr. Don Robertson and Dr. Salame
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2001
Service Philosophy: I enjoy working in this office and have for many years as we are
an office dedicated to quality patient care.
Name: Helen Park
Position: Treatment Coordinator for Dr. Shwaluk
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2012
Service Philosophy: I am a staff here, and a client at the same time. I try to look at all the services in the eyes of a client whether we are providing satisfactory services to them.
Personal Interests:Cross country skiing, walking, aqua aerobics, arts and crafts.
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Greeters
Name: Jen Jalink
Position: Greeter
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2009
Service Philosophy:To greet every patient as they come in and make sure that they are taken care of.
Personal Interests:I enjoy reading, walking, dancing and being with friends and family.
Name: Shareen Amershi
Position: Greeter
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2014
Service Philosophy: I feel like I can help patients best when I am calm and empathetic towards their needs.
Personal Interests:Reading, spending time with family, travelling, and I enjoy playing Candy Crush.
Name: Susan Kieswetter
Position: Greeter
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care:2008
Service Philosophy:When patients come in I always greet them with a friendly smile and make them feel as comfortable as possible. I enjoy the interaction I have with our patients, and always make them feel as comfortable as I can and offer coffee and water too, with that friendly smile!
Personal Interests:Long walks, chalk painting, spending time with family and friends, enjoying the great outdoors.
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Reception & Admin
Name: Clair Chow
Position: Accounts Receivable
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2008
Service Philosophy:Brushing & flossing twice a day helps keep the dental bill at bay.
Personal Interests:Biking & hiking in the summers, reading, gaming. Looking to learn how to play electric guitar & take up boxing.
Name: Kodie Page
Position: Assistant to Manager, Phlebotomist
Joined Deer Valley Dental Care: 2014
Service Philosophy:I feel that I can help patients best when I can pull knowledge from our other team members. We have a great team at Deer Valley Dental Care that is always looking out for the patients in our office.
Personal Interests:Computers, games, video’s. Enjoy physics, biology and politics; any lecture or seminar is great.
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